Bradley Roby Wants To Contribute Now, Brushes Off Ray Lewis’ Comments

DENVER (CBS4) – The knock on Bradley Roby is that he had some character issues. The cornerback was widely regarded as a Top 20 pick until a couple of off-the-field incidents at Ohio State had teams nervous. But not the Broncos — they did their homework.

Bradley Roby with CBS4’s Vic Lombardi (credit: CBS)

The Broncos are perfectly comfortable with their first round pick, who sat down to talk with CBS4’s Vic Lombardi.

John Fox and John Elway said they expect Roby to contribute immediately.

Bradley Roby talks with CBS4’s Vic Lombardi (credit: CBS)

“Definitely; I could have played another season at Ohio State. If I didn’t want to play in the pros I could have just played another season in college. But I came to this next level to play right away,” Roby said.

Lombardi asked Roby about his off-the-field incidents and wondered if he was just a kid being a kid.

“I’ve never gotten into anything with the law enforcement but this year. This year was the first time I’ve ever gotten into anything like that, and when that happens people automatically want to put you into a category no matter what the situation is,” Roby said. “Nobody is really going to sit there and look at the facts and see if you really committed a crime and see if you’re really a bad person.

“The thing (athletes) have to realize is that we’re not like everybody else; we’re under a microscope. Everything we do, if it’s something negative, it’s going to be breaking news. So I just had to learn that and to make better decisions off the field.”

Roby has said that he plays with an edge. Lombardi asked him if it’s hard to balance playing with an edge and how he acts off the field.

“No … I’m a completely different person, if you know me … I’m laid back, I’m chill. On the field it’s totally different. I’ve played football for a long time and I’ve kind of adopted a style,” Roby said. “That’s where I can let everything out, that’s where I can be that radical dude.

“I won’t apologize for anything between the white lines. But outside I’m kind of a different person.”

Bradley Roby of the Ohio State Buckeyes poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after he was picked #31 overall by the Denver Broncos during the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on May 8, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Former Baltimore Raven great Ray Lewis seemed to rip Roby on the air after Roby thought the two had developed a good relationship on the phone. He essentially said that Roby needs to grow up.

“I’ve talked to him on the phone about four or five times with things that had nothing to do with football. So I don’t know what he said. This comes as a shock to me because I thought we had a great relationship. I actually look at him as a mentor,” Roby said. “I really don’t know where it’s coming from, but that’s one man’s opinion.”